In the construction sector, seasonally adjusted production fell by 3.1% in the euro area (EA16) and by 2.5% in the EU27 in July 2010, compared with the previous month. In June production increased by 1.8% and 2.6% respectively.

Compared with July 2009, output in July 2010 dropped by 7.5% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27.

These first estimates are released by Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.

Monthly comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2010, construction output fell in six and rose in seven. The largest decreases were registered in Romania (-28.3%), Spain (-10.3%) and Slovenia (-3.2%), and the highest increases in Portugal (+5.0%), the United Kingdom (+4.4%) and Slovakia (+2.0%).

Building construction fell by 3.3% in both the euro area and the EU27, after +1.8% and +2.9% respectively in June. Civil engineering decreased by 1.7% in the euro area and by 0.9% in the EU27, after +1.6% and +1.9% respectively in the previous month.

Annual comparison

Among the Member States for which data are available for July 2010, construction output fell in nine and rose in four. The largest decreases were registered in Spain (-36.5%), Romania (-24.9%) and Bulgaria (-19.0%), and the highest increases in the United Kingdom (+13.1%), Sweden (+9.4%) and Germany (+4.8%).

Building construction decreased by 7.9% in the euro area and by 2.3% in the EU27, after +4.6% and +6.0% respectively in June. Civil engineering dropped by 6.0% in the euro area and by 1.5% in the EU27, after -6.5% and -1.8% respectively in the previous month.